Sample analyzing apparatus

ABSTRACT

A sample analyzing apparatus is provided with a memory for storing a schedule of maintenance, a display, and a controller for displaying on the display a screen of calendar format, wherein the screen includes a date display area for displaying a date and a maintenance item display area for displaying a maintenance item scheduled on the date.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/150,142 filed on Apr. 25, 2008 now U.S. Pat. No. 8,040,757, which claims priority to Japanese Patent Application Nos. 2007-119770 filed on Apr. 27, 2007 and 2007-123999 filed on May 8, 2007. The contents of these applications are hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a sample analyzing apparatus equipped with a measuring unit for measuring a specimen that enables the user to easily acquire the maintenance schedule of the measuring unit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Specimen analyzers such as colorimetric analyzer, fluorescence analyzer, immune analyzer, blood coagulation analyzer, and blood analyzer are known as a specimen measuring apparatus for analyzing a measurement sample prepared from a specimen and a reagent.

In this type of specimen analyzer, a measuring unit for preparing the measurement sample by processing a specimen using various reagents, and optically or electrically measuring the obtained measurement sample is arranged.

The process from preparation of the measurement sample to the measurement of the measurement sample in the measuring unit always needs to be smoothly performed in order to maintain the analyzing accuracy of the specimen analyzer. Thus, maintenance of the measuring unit of the specimen analyzer needs to be performed according to a predetermined schedule for the necessary maintenance items. The maintenance items of the immune analyzer include, for example, “pipette washing” of the pipette for dispensing the reagent; “discard cuvette” of discarding the used cuvette (sample tube) accommodated in the discarding container, and emptying the container; “waste process” of the used washing liquid and the like; order task of consumable goods (pipette chip used in dispensing reagent and specimen, cuvette for accommodating and optically detecting the dispensed reagent) used in the specimen analyzer, and the like.

Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 9-211003 discloses an automatic analyzer in which when the maintenance item is executed, the executed date is stored in the storage device. In the automatic analyzer, the user can newly register the maintenance item other than the maintenance items registered in advance. The automatic analyzer has an alarm function of notifying a timing of performing maintenance on the registered maintenance items to the user.

In the analyzer disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 9-211003, the record of the maintenance is displayed on the maintenance screen, and the maintenance item name, where warning alarm is issued, and the date and time thereof are displayed in time-series from the oldest, for example, as shown in FIG. 9 of the publication.

On the screen, twelve maintenance records are displayed from the oldest record, and the maintenance record of a new date and time can be displayed by scrolling the screen.

However, in the analyzer disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 9-211003, the record of maintenance can be checked, but the schedule of maintenance cannot be checked. Therefore, if the user wants to check the schedule of a maintenance task, in particular, wants to check the schedule of maintenance task of three days, one week, two weeks etc. later, the schedule of the maintenance task cannot be easily acquired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a specimen measuring apparatus enabling the user to easily acquire the schedule of the maintenance task of the specimen analyzer.

A sample analyzing apparatus embodying features of the present invention includes a memory for storing a schedule of maintenance; a display; and a controller for displaying on the display a screen of calendar format, wherein the screen includes a date display area for displaying a date and a maintenance item display area for displaying a maintenance item scheduled on the date.

A maintenance schedule displaying method embodying features of the present invention includes steps of providing a screen of calendar format, which includes a date display area for displaying a date and a maintenance item display area for displaying a maintenance item scheduled on the date; and displaying the screen on a display of the sample analyzing apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an overall configuration of an immune analyzer according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a measuring apparatus of the immune analyzer shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control unit of the measuring apparatus shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control device of the immune analyzer shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a maintenance operation of the immune analyzer shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a maintenance operation of the immune analyzer shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a view showing an operation screen (menu screen) displayed on the display unit of the control device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a view showing an operation screen (controller menu screen) displayed on the display unit of the control device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a view showing a maintenance item scheduled to be performed in the immune analyzer shown in FIG. 1 in a calendar format;

FIG. 10 is a view displaying the maintenance item to be performed in the immune analyzer shown in FIG. 1 by items;

FIG. 11 is a view showing a dialogue window displayed when a predetermined date is specified in a calendar shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a sub-routine for describing a process for setting a display condition of a calendar display executed in step S8 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 13 is a sub-routine for describing a process for setting a display condition of a calendar display executed in step S8 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 14 is a view showing a dialogue window for setting the display condition of the calendar shown in FIGS. 9 and 10;

FIG. 15 is a view showing a dialogue window for setting the display condition of the calendar shown in FIGS. 9 and 10;

FIG. 16 is a view showing a dialogue window for setting the display condition of the calendar shown in FIGS. 9 and 10;

FIG. 17 is a view showing a dialogue window for setting the display condition of the calendar shown in FIGS. 9 and 10; and

FIG. 18 is a view showing a dialogue window for changing the wakeup time set by the wakeup setting tab shown in FIG. 17.;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an overall configuration of an immune analyzer according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a measuring apparatus of the immune analyzer shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control unit of the measuring apparatus. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control device of the immune analyzer shown in FIG. 1. First, the overall configuration of the immune analyzer according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.

The immune analyzer 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention is an apparatus for carrying out examinations on various items such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, tumor marker, and thyroid hormone using specimen such as blood. In the immune analyzer 1, magnetic particles (R2 reagent) are bonded to a trapped antibody (R1 reagent) bonded to an antigen contained in a specimen such as blood, which is the measurement object, and thereafter, the bound antigen, trapped antibody, and magnetic particles are attracted to a magnet (not shown) of a BF (Bound Free) separator 14 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) to remove the R1 reagent containing non-reacting (free) trapped body. A labeled antibody (R3 reagent) is bonded to the antigen bound with magnetic particles, and thereafter, the bound magnetic particles, antigen, and labeled antibody are attracted to a magnet of a BF separator 14 to remove a R3 reagent containing non-reacting (free) labeled antibody. Furthermore, a light emitting substrate (R5 reagent) that emits light in the reaction process with the labeled antibody is added, and a light emitting amount generated through the reaction of the labeled antibody and the light emitting substrate is measured. After such processes, the antigen or the antibody contained in the specimen that bonds with the labeled antibody is quantitatively measured.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the immune analyzer 1 includes a measuring device 2, a specimen conveyance section (sampler) 3 arranged on the front surface side of the measuring device 2, and a control device 4 including PC (personal computer) electrically connected to the measuring device 2. The measuring device 2 is configured by a pipette chip supply device 30, an urgent specimen/chip conveyance section 20, a specimen dispensing arm 5, a nozzle wiping unit 16, reagent installing units 6 and 7, reagent dispensing arms 8, 9, and 10, a primary reaction unit 11 and a secondary reaction unit 12, a cuvette supplying unit 13, a BF separator 14, and a detector 15. As shown in FIG. 2, each mechanism (various dispensing arms, reagent installing unit 7, and the like) in the measuring device 2 are controlled by a control unit 2 a arranged in the measuring device 2. The specimen conveyance section 3 is also controlled by the control unit 2 a. In the immune analyzer 1 according to the present embodiment, the disposable pipette chip (not shown) is replaced every time aspiration and discharge of the specimen are performed to suppress specimen such as blood aspirated and discharged by the specimen dispensing arm 5 from mixing with other specimen. Each configuration of the measuring device will be described later.

As shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 2 a is mainly configured by a CPU 2 b, a ROM 2 c, a RAM 2 d, and a communication interface 2 e.

The CPU 2 b executes computer programs stored in the ROM 2 c and the computer programs read by the RAM 2 d. The ROM 2 c stores computer programs to be executed by the CPU 2 b, data used in executing the computer program, and the like. The RAM 2 d is used to read out the computer program stored in the ROM 2 c. In executing the computer program, the RAM 2 d is used as a work region of the CPU 2 b.

The communication interface 2 e is connected to the control device 4, and transmits optical information (data of received light amount generated by reaction of the labeled antibody and light emitting substrate) of the specimen to the control device 4, and receives signals from the control unit 4 a of the control device 4. The communication interface 2 e also has a function of transmitting a command from the CPU 2 b for driving each unit of the specimen conveyance section 3 and the measuring device 2.

As shown in FIG. 1, the specimen conveyance section 3 is configured to convey a rack 101 mounted with a plurality of test tubes 100 accommodating the specimen to a position corresponding to an aspirating position 1 a at where the specimen dispensing arm 5 aspirates the specimen. The specimen conveyance section 3 includes a rack set part 3 a for setting the rack 101 in which the test tubes 100 accommodating non-processed specimen are mounted, and a rack storing part 3 b for storing the rack 101 in which the test tubes 100 accommodating the dispensing processed specimen are mounted. The test tube 100 accommodating the non-processed specimen is conveyed to a position corresponding to the aspirating position 1 a of the specimen dispensing arm 5, so that the specimen dispensing arm 5 aspirates specimen such as blood in the test tube 100, and thereafter, the rack 101 mounted with the test tube 100 is stored in the rack storing part 3 b. Each test tube 100 is attached with a barcode recorded with identifying information for identifying the accommodating specimen. The test tube 100 mounted in the tack 101 set in the rack set part 3 a is conveyed to the aspirating position 1 a after the respective identifying information is read by a barcode reader (not shown).

The control device 4 consists of a personal computer (PC), and includes a control unit 4 a including CPU, ROM, RAM, a display unit 4 b and a keyboard 4 c. The display unit 4 b is arranged to display result of analysis obtained by analyzing data of digital signals transmitted from a detector 15, user interface, and the like, and has an input function of a touch panel.

The configuration of the control device 4 will now be described using FIG. 4. The control device 4 is configured by a computer 401 mainly consisting of the control unit 4 a, the display unit 4 b, and the keyboard 4 c. The control unit 4 a is mainly configured by a CPU 401 a, a ROM 401 b, a RAM 401 c, a hard disc 401 d, a read-out device 401 e, an input/output interface 401 f, a communication interface 401 g, and an image output interface 401 h. The CPU 401 a, the ROM 401 b, the RAM 401 c, the hard disc 401 d, the read-out device 401 e, the input/output interface 401 f, the communication interface 401 g, and the image output interface 401 h are connected by a bus 401 i.

The CPU 401 a executes computer programs stored in the ROM 401 b and the computer programs loaded in the RAM 401 c. The computer 401 serves as the control device 4 when the CPU 401 a executes the application program 404 a, as hereinafter described.

The ROM 401 b is configured by mask ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, and the like, and is recorded with computer programs to be executed by the CPU 401 a, data used for the same, and the like.

The RAM 401 c is configured by SRAM, DRAM, and the like. The RAM 401 c is used to read out the computer programs recorded on the ROM 401 b and the hard disc 401 d. The RAM 401 c is used as a work region of the CPU 401 a when executing the computer programs.

The hard disc 401 d is installed with various computer programs to be executed by the CPU 401 a such as operating system and application program, as well as data used in executing the computer program. The application program 404 a related to immune analysis and maintenance of the apparatus according to the present embodiment is also installed in the hard disc 401 d.

The read-out device 401 e is configured by flexible disc drive, CD-ROM drive, DVD-ROM drive, and the like, and is able to read out computer programs and data recorded on a portable recording medium 404. The immune analysis application program 404 a is stored in the portable recording medium 404, where the computer 401 reads out the application program 404 a from the portable recording medium 404, and installs the application program 404 a to the hard disc 401 d.

The application program 404 a is not only provided by the portable recording medium 404, but also provided through communication line (wired or wireless) from external devices communicatably connected with the computer 401 through the communication line. For instance, the application program 404 a may be stored in the hard disc of the server computer on the Internet, so that the computer 401 can access the server computer to download the application program 404 a and install the application program 404 a to the hard disc 401 d.

Operating system providing graphical user interface environment such as Windows (registered trademark) manufactured and sold by US Microsoft Co. is installed in the hard disc 401 d. In the following description, the application program 404 a according to the present embodiment is assumed to operate on the operating system.

The input/output interface 401 f is configured by serial interface such as USB, IEEE1394, RS-232C; parallel interface such as SCSI, IDE, IEEE1284; analog interface such as D/A converter, A/D converter, and the like. The keyboard 4 c and a mouse (not shown), and the display unit 4 b having a touch panel function are connected to the input/output interface 401 f, so that the user can input data to the computer 401 using the keyboard 4 c or the mouse. The user can input to the computer 401 by touching the display unit 4 b.

The communication interface 401 g is, for example, Ethernet (registered trademark) interface. The computer 401 transmits and receives data with the measuring device 2 using a predetermined communication protocol by means of the communication interface 401 g.

The image output interface 401 h is connected to the display unit 4 b configured by LCD, CRT, or the like, and is configured to output an image signal corresponding to the image data provided from the CPU 401 a to the display unit 4 b. The display unit 4 b displays the image (screen) according to the input image signal.

The immune analysis application program 404 a installed in the hard disc 401 d of the control unit 4 a measures the amount of antigen in the measurement sample using the light emitting amount (data of digital signal) of the measurement sample transmitted from the detector 15 of the measuring device 2.

Each configuration of the measuring device 2 will now be described using FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, the pipette chip supply device 30 has a function of supplying a great amount of pipette chips accommodated in the chip accommodating part (not shown) to the urgent specimen/chip conveyance 20 one at a time.

The urgent specimen/chip conveyance section 20 is configured to convey the test tube 102 containing an urgent specimen that needs to cut into the specimen being conveyed by the specimen conveyance section 3 and be tested to the attachment position 1 b (see FIG. 1) of the pipette chip of the specimen dispensing arm 5. The urgent specimen/chip conveyance section 20 is configured to convey the pipette chip received from the pipette chip supply device 30 to the attachment position 1 b of the specimen dispensing arm 5.

The specimen dispensing arm 5 has a function of dispensing the specimen in the test tube 100 conveyed to the aspirating position 1 a (see FIG. 1) by the specimen conveyance section 3 or the specimen in the test tube 102 conveyed to the attachment position 1 b by the urgent specimen/chip conveyance section 20 to a cuvette held by a holder 11 b of a rotatable table 11 a of the primary reaction unit 11 to be hereinafter described. The specimen dispensing arm 5 includes a motor 51, a drive transmission part 52 connected to the motor 51, an arm 54 attached to the drive transmitting part 52 by way of a shaft 53, an arm supporting part 56 for supporting the arm 54, and a horizontal drive mechanism 56 for moving the arm supporting part 56 in the horizontal direction. The drive transmitting part 52 is configured to turn the arm 54 with the shaft 53 as the center by the driving force from the motor 51, and move the arm in the up and down direction (Z direction).

The arm 54 has a nozzle (not shown), and the pipette chip conveyed by the conveyance rack 23 (see FIG. 1) of the urgent specimen/chip conveyance section 20 is attached to the distal end of the nozzle.

The chip separation unit 140 is arranged to separate the pipette chip attached to the specimen dispensing arm 5. The chip separation unit 140 includes a release strip that contacts the upper edge of the pipette chip and separates the pipette chip from the specimen dispensing arm, and a chip accommodating part (not shown) for accommodating the separated pipette chip.

The reagent installing unit 6 is arranged to install the reagent bin in which an R1 reagent containing trapped antibody is accommodated and a reagent bin in which a R3 reagent containing labeled antibody is accommodated. The reagent installing unit 7 is arranged to install a reagent bin in which an R2 reagent containing magnetic particles is accommodated. The cuvette supplying unit 13 is configured to sequentially supply a plurality of cuvettes (not shown) to the holder 11 b of the rotatable table 11 a of the primary reaction unit 11.

The primary reaction unit 11 is arranged to rotatably transfer the cuvette held by the holder 11 b of the rotatable table 11 a by a predetermined angle for every predetermined period, and to stir the specimen, the R1 reagent, and the R2 reagent in the cuvette. The primary reaction unit 11 includes a specimen conveying part 11 c for conveying the cuvette accommodating the R1 reagent and the R2 reagent to the BF separator 14 to be hereinafter described.

The reagent dispensing arm 8 has a function of aspirating the R1 reagent in the reagent bin installed in the reagent installing unit 6 and dispensing the aspirated R1 reagent into the cuvette dispensed with specimen of the holder 11 b of the rotatable table 11 a of the primary reaction unit 11.

The reagent dispensing arm 9 has a function of dispensing the R2 reagent in the reagent bin installed in the reagent installing unit 7 into the cuvette dispensed with the specimen and the R1 reagent of the primary reaction unit 11.

The BF separator 14 has a function of separating the non-reacting R1 reagent (unnecessary component) and the magnetic particles from the sample in the cuvette conveyed by the container conveying part 11 c of the primary reaction unit 11, and a function of separating the non-reacting R3 reagent (unnecessary component) and the magnetic particles from the sample in the cuvette conveyed by the container conveying part 12 c of the secondary reaction unit 12. The cuvette of the BF separator 14 separated with non-reacting R1 reagent and the like is conveyed to the holder 12 b of the rotatable table 12 a of the secondary reaction unit 12 by a conveyance catcher unit (not shown).

The secondary reaction unit 12 has a configuration similar to the primary reaction unit 11, and is arranged to rotatably transfer the cuvette held by the holder 12 b of the rotatable table 12 a by a predetermined angle for every predetermined period, and to stir the specimen, the R1 reagent, the R2 reagent, the R3 reagent, and the R5 reagent in the cuvette. The second reaction unit 12 includes a specimen conveying part 12 c for conveying the cuvette accommodating the stirred specimen and the like to the BF separator 14. The specimen conveying part 12 c has a function of conveying the cuvette processed by the BF separator 14 again to the holder 12 b of the rotatable table 12 a.

The reagent dispensing arm 10 has a function of aspirating the R3 reagent in the reagent bin installed in the reagent installing unit 6, and dispensing the aspirated R3 reagent into the cuvette dispensed with the specimen, the R1 reagent, and the R2 reagent of the primary reaction unit 11. The reagent dispensing arm 10 has a function of dispensing the R5 reagent containing light emitting substrate in the reagent bin (not shown) installed at the lower part of the immune analyzer 1 to the cuvette accommodating the specimen, the R1 reagent, the R2 reagent, and the R3 reagent of the secondary reaction unit 12.

The detector 15 is arranged to measure the amount of antigen contained in a specimen by detecting the light generated in the reaction process of the labeled antibody bound to the antigen of the specimen performed with a predetermined process and the light emitting substrate with a photo multiplier tube.

In order to smoothly operate the measuring device 2 configured as above, and exhibit the predetermined performance, the user needs to perform various maintenances. In the present embodiment, the schedule of the relevant maintenance is stored in the hard disc 401 d of the control device 4, and the schedule of the stored maintenance is displayed on the display unit 4 b (see FIG. 1 and FIG. 4). In this case, the schedule of the maintenance is displayed on the display unit 4 b in a “calendar format” in which the dates are displayed in a list according to the type. The user can perform various maintenances while checking the schedule of the maintenance displayed on the display unit 4 b.

The “calendar format” is a format in which the dates for one month, where one row is sectionalized in units of one week as in seven days of the week, are displayed in a list, and the non-performed maintenance name is displayed under the respective date. That is, the dates or the weeks are displayed in a list, and the performance status of the maintenance is displayed in correspondence to each date. Such calendar format is convenient in checking the schedule of maintenance. Not limited to displaying one month in a list, the dates for one to two weeks may be displayed in a list, for example.

The maintenance operation of the immune analyzer 1 according to the present embodiment will now be described based on the drawings.

The hard disc 401 d arranged in the control unit 4 a of the control device 4 is stored with a computer program (one part of application program 404 a) related to the maintenance of the measuring device 2 according to the embodiment. The computer program is read out from the hard disc 401 d, loaded to the RAM 401 c, and executed by the CPU 401 a.

The computer program of the maintenance operation according to the embodiment is stored in the ROM 2 c (see FIG. 3) arranged in the control unit 2 a of the measuring device 2. The computer program is read out from the ROM 2 c, loaded to the RAM 2 d, and executed by the CPU 2 b.

[To Display of Maintenance Schedule Screen]

As shown in FIG. 6, when the power (not shown) of the measuring device 2 is turned ON, initialization of the control unit 2 a (initialization of program) is performed, the operation check of each unit of the measuring device 2 is performed, and the standby state of the measuring device 2 (see FIG. 1 to FIG. 3) is obtained in step S24.

When the power (not shown) of the control device 4 (computer 401) is turned ON as shown in FIG. 5, in step S1, initialization of the control device 4 (initialization of program) is performed, and a menu screen is displayed on the display unit 4 b (step S2).

FIG. 7 is a view showing a menu screen W1 displayed on the display unit 4 b. As shown in FIG. 7, the menu screen W1 has a menu bar B1, a tool bar B2, a function display region R, and a status bar B3. In the menu bar B1, a route menu in the operation screen is displayed. In the respective route menu, a sub-menu exists, and a pull-down menu can be displayed by the input of a mouse (not shown) or a keyboard 5 c. A plurality of tool button icons for executing functions having high usage frequency in the menu screen W1 is displayed on the tool bar B2. The status bar B3 is a region for displaying the storage stock state in the apparatus of the pipette chip, cuvette, reagent etc., which are consumable goods, and the abnormal state of the apparatus when measuring device 2 is used.

In the function display region R, shortcut buttons for the operation of the measuring device 2 of screen transition, standard curve measurement of the measuring device 2, accuracy management, specimen measurement, and the like are displayed. In the present embodiment, in the function display region R of the menu screen W1, a “shutdown” button R11 for shutting down the control device 4 (computer 401) and the measuring device 2, a “controller button” R12 for transitioning to the screen arranged with the shortcut button of the operation for operating the specimen analyzer, and the like are arranged.

Among the shortcut buttons of the menu screen W1, if the controller button R12 is selected (Yes in step S3), a controller menu screen W2 shown in FIG. 8 is displayed on the display unit 4 b (step S4). In this controller menu screen W2, the content displayed in the menu bar B1, the tool bar B2, and the status bar B3 are the same as the menu screen W1 described above.

As shown in FIG. 8, the shortcut buttons related to the operation (replacement, maintenance etc. of consumable goods) of the measuring device 2 are displayed in the function display region R of the controller menu screen W2. In the present embodiment, a “schedule button” R21 for checking the maintenance schedule of the measuring device 2, a “shutdown button” R22 for shutting down the measuring device 2 and the control device 4 (computer 401), and the like are arranged in the function display region R.

[Display of Maintenance Schedule Screen]

Among the shortcut buttons of the controller menu screen W2, if the schedule button R21 is selected (Yes in step S5), a schedule menu screen W3 shown in FIG. 9 is displayed on the display unit 4 b (step S6).

As shown in FIG. 9, the function display region R of the schedule menu screen W3 includes a calendar display region B5 for calendar displaying the schedule of the maintenance of the measuring device 2, an operation panel execution button region B6 for displaying the shortcut button of the route menu displayed on the menu bar B1, and an operation panel selection button region B7 for displaying the button for switching the button groups displayed on the operation panel execution button region B6.

A display calendar selecting part B51 including a tab for selecting the type of calendar to display is arranged in the calendar display region B5. The display calendar selecting part B51 includes a calendar display tab for displaying the maintenance item of the performing schedule of the measuring device 2 in a calendar format, and an item display tab for displaying the maintenance item of the measuring device 2 by maintenance cycle. If the item display tab is selected, the calendar for the maintenance item shown in FIG. 10 is displayed in the calendar display region B5 of the schedule menu screen W3.

The calendar display region B5 is arranged with a calendar year and month display unit B510 a for displaying “year and month” of the calendar for displaying the maintenance item scheduled to be performed, a calendar display part B510 b for displaying a calendar displaying a calendar of “year and month” displayed in the calendar year and month display unit B510, a previous month display button c for displaying a calendar of the previous month on the calendar display part B510 b, and a next month display button B510 d for displaying a calendar of the next month on the calendar display part B510 b.

The dates for one month sectionalized by a grid line are displayed for every seven days of the week in the calendar display part B510 b. The maintenance item not yet performed in the immune analyzer 1 is text displayed in the grid of each date. Furthermore, when the immune analyzer 1 is automatically activated, and a standby time (hereinafter referred to as wake up time) when a measurement standby state in which measurement can be performed is obtained is set, a wakeup icon B510 e is displayed on the calendar display part B510 b. When the wakeup time is set, the immune analyzer 1 is activated a predetermined time before (e.g. 30 minutes before) the standby time. The predetermined time is a time necessary until the standby state is obtained from when the immune analyzer 1 is activated, and during this time, the initial operation (e.g., origin adjustment of the motor of each unit, temperature adjustment such as heating of the detector 15, cooling of the reagent installing unit 6 and the reagent installing unit 7, and the like) of the immune analyzer 1 is performed. Saturday and Sunday are set as default holidays. The setting etc. of the maintenance item, the performing cycle thereof, holidays, and wakeup time displayed on the calendar display part B510 b (calendar display region B5) are set in the maintenance calendar setting (step S8). When set as the maintenance items to be performed every day in the maintenance calendar setting, the maintenance item scheduled to be performed every time is text displayed in the grid of the date other than holidays as shown in FIG. 9.

When the cursor of the mouser (not shown) overlaps the wakeup icon B510 e, a pop up window B510 f displaying the wakeup time at the date specified by the cursor is displayed. Furthermore, when the wakeup icon B510 e is clicked, a wakeup time change dialogue for individually changing the wakeup time is displayed. The user inputs the desired wakeup time to the wakeup time change dialogue to change the reference wakeup time set in the maintenance calendar setting for every date. The details of changing the wakeup time will be described hereinafter.

The maintenance calendar setting (step S8) is executed by selecting “customize” from the submenu of “screen operation” (D) (Yes in step S7) in the menu displayed on the menu bar B1 (“file” (F) and “edit” (E)) when the schedule menu screen W3 is displayed on the display unit 4 b. The setting of the maintenance calendar will be described in detail hereinafter.

[Perform Maintenance Task]

When the grid of May 10 is selected of the grid (frame) displaying the date of the calendar displayed on the calendar display part B510 b in step S9 (Yes in step S9), a maintenance task selection dialogue D1 performed on a specified date as shown in FIG. 11 is displayed overlapping the front surface of the schedule menu screen W3 (step S10). If the grid (frame) is not selected (No in step S9), the process proceeds to step S19. In the present embodiment, May 10, 2007 is set as the date the operator operates the apparatus.

As shown in FIG. 11, the maintenance task selection dialogue Dl includes a specified date display part D2 a for displaying the specified date, a maintenance item display part D2 b for displaying the list of maintenance item scheduled to be performed or already performed on the specified date, a check box display part D2 c for checking whether or not the maintenance item displayed on the maintenance item display part D2 b has been performed, and a scroll button display region D2 d displaying a scroll button for moving in the up and down direction the cursor for selecting one of the maintenance items displayed on the maintenance item display part D2 b. In FIG. 11, “resupply chip” is selected with the cursor from the maintenance items.

In the maintenance task selection dialogue D1, “execute” button D2 e for executing the maintenance item, “add” button D2 f for adding the maintenance item to perform, “delete” button D2 g for deleting the maintenance item not to be performed from the list of maintenance items to be performed on the specified date, and “close” button D2 h for terminating the maintenance task selection dialogue D1 are arranged.

In the present embodiment, in the maintenance setting to be hereinafter described, “discard cuvette”, “resupply chip”, “resupply cuvette”, and “waste process” which are maintenance items newly added by the user; “pipette washing” which is a maintenance item set in the apparatus as a default in advance and involves maintenance operation; and “clean apparatus” which is a maintenance item set in the apparatus as a default in advance but does not involve maintenance operation are displayed in the performing maintenance item display part D2 b.

When performing the displayed maintenance item, the maintenance item desired to be performed is first selected with a cursor using a scroll button. The selected performing item is displayed in blue (hatching display in the figure), where when the user pushes the “execute” button D2 e (Yes in step S11), the CPU 401 a determines whether or not the maintenance item to be performed involves maintenance operation (step S12).

[Case Where Performed Maintenance Item Involves Maintenance Operation]

If the executed maintenance item involves maintenance operation (in the present embodiment, “pipette washing”) (Yes in step S12), the CPU 401 a of the control device 4 transmits a maintenance operation start command to the control unit 2 a of the measuring device 2 (step S15).

On the other hand, the CPU 2 b of the measuring device 2 determines whether or not the maintenance operation start command is received (step S25). If the command is received (Yes in step S25), the CPU 2 b controls the mechanism so that the mechanism starts the maintenance operation according to a predetermined sequence (step S26).

The CPU 2 b determines whether or not the predetermined maintenance operation is completed in step S27, and transmits the maintenance operation complete information to the control unit 4 a of the control device 4 (step S28) if the maintenance operation is completed (Yes in step S27).

The CPU 401 a of the control device 4 transmits the maintenance operation start command to the control unit 2 a of the measuring device 2, and thereafter determines whether or not the maintenance operation complete information is received in step S16.

If the maintenance operation complete information is received (Yes in step S16), the CPU 401 a updates the maintenance history (step S17). Specifically, the maintenance item involving the performed maintenance operation and the date and the log in user name are stored in the hard disc 401 d in correspondence to each other, a check is displayed on the check box of the maintenance item displayed on the maintenance task selection dialogue D1, and the relevant maintenance item is erased from the calendar display part B510 b.

[Case Where Performed Maintenance Item Does Not Involve Maintenance Operation]

If the executed maintenance item does not involve maintenance operation in step S12 of FIG. 5 (“discard cuvette” “resupply chip”, “resupply cuvette”, “clean apparatus”, and waste process” of the maintenance items shown in FIG. 11) (No in step S12), the CPU 401 a updates the history of the performed maintenance item (step S17). Specifically, the performed item and the date and the log in user name are stored in the hard disc 401 d in correspondence to each other, a check is displayed on the check box of the maintenance item (see FIG. 11) displayed on the maintenance task selection dialogue D1, and the relevant maintenance item is erased from the calendar display part B510 b.

In step S18, the CPU 401 a determines whether or not the “close” button D2 h for terminating the maintenance task selection dialogue D1 is pushed. When the “close” button D2 h is pushed by the user (Yes in step S18), the maintenance task selection dialogue Dl is terminated, and the process returns to step S11. The schedule menu screen W3 is displayed on the display unit 4 b when the maintenance task selection dialogue D1 is closed.

[Item Calendar Display]

In step S19, the CPU 401 a determines whether or not the item display tab of the schedule menu screen W3 is selected. When the item display tab is selected, the calendar of the maintenance item shown in FIG. 10 is displayed on the calendar display region B5 of the schedule menu screen W3 displayed on the display unit 4 b (step S20).

As shown in FIG. 10, the item display tab has four display regions according to the type of maintenance. That is, the item display tab includes “Daily maintenance inspection item” display region B511 a that is normally performed every apparatus operation day, “Weekly maintenance inspection item” display region B511 b that is performed every week, “Monthly maintenance inspection item” display region B511 c that is performed every month, maintenance item “Others” display region B511 d that is performed as necessary or which cycle is not set, and movement button display region B511 e for moving the cursor up and down for selecting the maintenance item displayed on each display region.

The “Daily maintenance inspection item”, “Weekly maintenance inspection item”, “Monthly maintenance inspection item”, and “Others” are displayed based on the setting of the cycle of the maintenance item set in the calendar display setting of step S8, and the history of the maintenance is recorded in a calendar format described above.

In the present embodiment, “clean apparatus” for cleaning the periphery of the measuring device 2, “waste process” of processing the waste in the waste tank storing the waste used in the measuring device 2, and “resupply cuvette” for resupplying a cuvette which is one consumable good used in the measuring device 2 are displayed as the “Daily maintenance inspection item”.

“Pipette washing” for intensified washing (washing with intensified washing degree performed separate from the washing performed in time of measurement of each specimen) all the dispensing arms (reagent dispensing arms 8, 9, and 10) of the measuring device 2, and “discard cuvette” for discarding the cuvette collected in the cuvette waste box (not shown) after the termination of the measurement are displayed as the “Weekly maintenance inspection item”.

“Resupply chip” for supplying the pipette chip to the pipette chip supply device 30 and “order reagent” for ordering reagent to be used in the measuring device 2 are displayed as the “Monthly maintenance inspection item”.

In each maintenance inspection item, a performed status mark is displayed on each date. In the present embodiment, a maintenance item scheduled to be performed icon B511 f of a spanner or a working tool is displayed for the maintenance item scheduled to be performed; and a performed maintenance item icon B511 g of a check mark is displayed for the maintenance item which performance is completed. Furthermore, displayed is a non-performed maintenance item icon B511 h in which the box of the maintenance item scheduled to be performed B511 f is reverse displayed in red (hatching in the figure) for items that are not performed and the scheduled day has elapsed. The user can easily check whether or not the maintenance item scheduled to be performed is executed by displaying the history of maintenance in a list by maintenance item, and the item that has not been performed with maintenance can be recognized at once.

[Shutdown Operation]

In steps S21, the CPU 401 a determines whether or not an icon for displaying the menu screen W1 on the display unit 4 b is selected of the tool buttons displayed on the tool bar B2 of the schedule menu screen W3. If the icon for displaying the menu screen W1 is selected (Yes in step S21), the CPU 401 a returns the process to step S2 and displays the menu screen W1 on the display unit 4 b. The CPU 401 a determines whether or not a shutdown button R11 of the menu screen W1 is selected (step S13), and transmits shutdown command data to the CPU 2 b of the measuring device 2 when the shutdown button R11 is selected (Yes in step S13) (step S23). The CPU 2 b of the measuring device 2 determines whether or not the shutdown command data is received in step S29. If the shutdown command data is received (Yes in step S29), the CPU 2 b executes the shutdown operation of the measuring device 2 (step S30).

If the icon for displaying the menu screen W1 on the display unit 4 b is not selected (No in step S21), and if the CPU 401 a further determines whether or not the calendar display tab is selected in step S22 and the calendar display tab is selected (Yes in step S22), the process returns to step S7, and if the calendar display tab is not selected (No in step S22), the process returns to step S21.

The shutdown operation can be executed when the controller menu screen W2 is displayed on the display unit 4 b as well.

As shown in FIG. 5, when the controller menu screen W2 is displayed on the display unit 4 b (No in step S5), the CPU 401 a determines whether or not the shutdown button R22 is selected in step S14. If the shutdown button R22 is selected, the CPU 401 a proceeds the process to step S23 of FIG. 6, and transmits the shutdown command data to the control unit 2 a of the measuring device 2. The CPU 2 b determines whether or not the shutdown command data is received in step S29. If the command is received (Yes in step S29), the CPU 2 b executes the shutdown operation of the measuring device 2 in step S30.

[Setting of Display Condition of Calendar to be Displayed on Calendar Display Region B5]

The process of setting the display condition of the calendar display executed in step S8 will now be described. FIGS. 12 and 13 are sub-routines for describing the process of setting the display condition of the calendar display executed in step S8 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 5. FIGS. 14 to 17 are views showing a dialogue window for setting the display condition. First, FIGS. 14 to 17 will be described, and thereafter, the process flow for setting the display condition of the calendar display will be described.

If “customize” is selected form the “screen operation” submenu displayed on the menu bar of the menu bar B1 (Yes in step S7) when the schedule menu screen W3 is displayed on the display unit 4 b, A customize dialogue D2 (FIG. 14) enabling customization of the display condition etc. of the calendar is displayed overlapping the front surface of the schedule menu screen W3 (step S801).

As shown in FIGS. 14 to 17, the customize dialogue D2 is arranged with tab selecting region D20 for selecting a tab to set a cycle of maintenance item, new maintenance item, holiday setting, and a wakeup time of the apparatus, and “OK” button D21 for recording the set calendar display condition in the hard disc 401 d of the control unit 4 a and closing the dialogue.

The tab selecting region D20 includes a maintenance cycle setting tab “every day”, a maintenance cycle setting tab “every week”, and a maintenance cycle setting tab “every month” for setting the selected maintenance item as maintenance items to be performed every day, every week, and every month, respectively; a maintenance item “newly add” tab for newly setting the maintenance item; a “day of the week setting” tab for changing the holiday of the calendar according the usage environment of the apparatus; and a “wakeup setting” tab for setting the wakeup time of the measuring device 2. The “OK” button D21 is displayed commonly to all the tabs.

The maintenance cycle setting tab (every day), the maintenance cycle setting tab (every week), and the maintenance cycle setting tab (every month) allow setting of the cycle of the cyclic maintenance item displayed on the calendar. As shown in FIG. 14, the maintenance cycle setting tab (every day) includes a selection item list D20 a for showing a list of options of the maintenance items that can be displayed on the calendar and a registration item list D20 b or a field for setting the maintenance items to be performed every day.

In the maintenance cycle setting tab (every day), an insertion button D20 c for inserting the maintenance item selected by a cursor of the selection item list D20 a to a cursor position of the registration item list D20 b, and a cancel button D20 d for returning the maintenance item inserted to the registration item list D20 b back to the selection item list D20 a are arranged.

When the user pushes the button D20 c, D20 d, the maintenance item desired to be performed every day can be moved from the selection item list D20 a to the registration item list D20 b, and the maintenance item desired to be performed every day can be freely selected by the user. When the “OK” button D21 is pushed and the setting of the selected maintenance item is confirmed, the set display item is stored in the hard disc 401 d of the control unit 4 a, and the set conditions (maintenance schedule) is displayed on the calendar displayed in the calendar display region B5. The maintenance cycle setting tab (every week) and the maintenance cycle setting tab (every month) differ only in that the setting of the cycle is either every week or every month, and thus the description thereof will be omitted here.

In the maintenance item newly add tab of FIG. 15, the setting (new, delete, edit) of the maintenance items other than those set at default are executed. The maintenance item newly add tab is arranged with a maintenance item list unit D23 a for displaying a list of maintenance items registered in the hard disc 401 d of the control unit 4 a, a maintenance item name display unit D23 b for displaying the name of the maintenance item selected with a cursor in the maintenance item list unit D23 a, a “move up” button D23 c for moving the cursor for selecting the maintenance item up by one in the maintenance item list unit D23 a, and a “move down” button D23 d for moving the cursor for selecting the maintenance item downward by one in the maintenance item list unit D23 a.

When adding a new maintenance item, the user first uses the move up button D23 c and the move down button D23 d to move the cursor for selecting the maintenance item to a blank space in the maintenance item list unit D23 a. The user then inputs the name of a new maintenance item to the maintenance item name display unit D23 b. When desirably setting (changing) the name of the maintenance item, the user positions the cursor on the maintenance item to change the name, and inputs the name in the maintenance item name display unit D23 b. As shown in FIG. 15, the user may use the keyboard 4 c to change the maintenance item set in the maintenance item name display unit D23 b to the name “order reagent”. The name can be changed only for the newly added item, and the name cannot be changed for the default set maintenance item. The maintenance item of default set in advance and the maintenance item added by the user are displayed in the maintenance item list unit D23 a. For easy identification, the default maintenance item is displayed in blue and the added maintenance item is displayed in red.

As shown in FIG. 16, the day of the week setting tab includes a setting auxiliary calendar display region D240 for displaying the calendar set with holidays, a holiday setting checkbox display region D241 displaying a check box for performing holiday setting of the calendar displayed in the setting auxiliary calendar display region D240 and the calendar display region B5, a “starting date” setting region D242 for setting the day of the week for starting the week of the calendar displayed on the setting auxiliary calendar display region D240, and a “deadline date” setting region D243 used in examination result report, accounting report, and the like for every month.

The setting auxiliary calendar display region D240 includes a calendar year/month display part D240 a for displaying “year and month” of the calendar for setting the holiday, a calendar display part D240 b for displaying the calendar displayed in the calendar year/month display part, a “next month” button D240 c for changing the calendar displayed on the calendar display part B510 b to one month ahead, and a “previous month” button D240 d for changing the calendar displayed on the calendar display part to one month before.

In the holiday setting check box display region D241, the check box group for setting every Monday to every Sunday as holidays is arranged. When the checkboxes are checked, the checked day of the week is set as the holiday, the holiday is displayed in red in the calendar displayed on the setting auxiliary calendar display region D240, and the setting is reflected on the calendar displayed on the calendar display region B5. In the present embodiment, an example of setting Sunday as the holiday is shown. By this, weekdays may be set as holidays according to the usage state of the apparatus of each facility.

The “starting date” setting region D242 includes a starting date selection combo box D242 a for selecting the day of the week that comes to the head of the week of the calendar displayed on the calendar display part B510 b. When the starting date selection combo box D242 a is clicked by an input means such as a mouse, a selection menu (not shown) from Monday to Sunday is displayed, and an arbitrary day of het week is selected.

The “deadline date” setting region D243 includes a deadline date setting combo box D243 a for setting the beginning of the month and the end of the month of the calendar displayed on the calendar display part B510 b as deadline date. When the deadline date setting combo box D243 a is clicked by the input means such as a mouse, a selection menu (not shown) such as beginning of the month and the end of the month is displayed, and the beginning of the month or the end of the month can be arbitrarily set as the deadline date. The beginning of the month is the first date excluding the holiday displayed on the calendar display part B510 b, and the end of the month is the last date excluding the holiday displayed on the calendar display part B510 b. Thus, the deadline date of examination result report, accounting report, and the like for every month can be displayed on the calendar, whereby the convenience of the apparatus can be further enhanced.

As shown in FIG. 17, the wakeup setting tab includes a reference wakeup time setting part D25 a for setting the wakeup time that serves as a reference. When the user inputs the time to the reference wakeup time setting part D25 a using the keyboard 5 c etc., the power of the immune analyzer 1 is automatically turned ON so that a standby state in which measurement can be performed is obtained at the input time, and the control unit 2 a performs the wakeup operation for temperature adjusting the detector 15, the reagent installing unit 6 and the reagent installing unit 7. The input time is set as the reference wakeup time. The wakeup operation can be set with the performing cycle similar to the maintenance item. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 14, the wakeup operation is handled as one item which performing cycle can be changed, and a cycle of once a month, once a week, or every day can be set. In FIG. 9, a case where the cycle of the wakeup operation is set to every day, and the reference wakeup time is 8:15 is shown.

The wakeup time can be set individually besides the standard wakeup time. In this case, the user individually clicks the wakeup icon B510 e of the date on which the wakeup time is desirably set, displays the wakeup time change dialogue on the display unit 4 b, and inputs the desired wakeup time using the keyboard 4 c. Thus, the reference wakeup time can be changed for every date.

The flow shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 will be described using FIGS. 14 to 17 described above.

If “customize” is selected from the “operation screen” submenu displayed on the menu bar of the menu bar B1 when the schedule menu screen W3 is displayed on the display unit 4 b (Yes in step S7 of FIG. 5), the customize dialogue D2 in which customization of the display condition etc. of the calendar is performed is displayed overlapping the front surface of the schedule menu screen W3 (step S801).

Whether or not the maintenance cycle setting tab (every day) is selected is determined in step S802. If the maintenance cycle setting tab (every day) is selected (Yes in step S802), whether or not the maintenance item scheduled to be performed every day is selected with the cursor is determined in step S804. If the maintenance item scheduled to be performed every day is selected (Yes in step S804), whether or not to add the maintenance item scheduled to be performed every day from the selection item list D20 a to the registration item list D20 b in step S805. When adding the maintenance item scheduled to be performed every day from the selection item list D20 a to the registration item list D20 b (Yes in step S805), the buttons D20 c, D20 d are pushed to perform the process of adding the maintenance item scheduled to be performed every day in step S806.

If the maintenance cycle setting tab (every day) is not selected (No in step S802), whether or not the display instruction of the maintenance cycle setting tab (every day) is made is determined in step S803. If the display instruction of the maintenance cycle setting tab (every day) is made (Yes in step S803), the process proceeds to step S804. If the determination is No in steps S803, 804, and 805, the process proceeds to step S807.

In step S807, the CPU 401 a determines whether the maintenance cycle setting tab (every week) is selected. If the maintenance cycle setting tab (every week) is selected (Yes in step S807), whether or not the maintenance item scheduled to be performed every week is selected with the cursor is determined in step S809. If the maintenance item scheduled to be performed every week is selected with the cursor (Yes in step S809), whether or not to add the maintenance item scheduled to be performed every week is determined in step S810. If the maintenance item scheduled to be performed every week is to be added (Yes in step S810), the buttons D20 c, D20 d are pushed to perform the process of adding the maintenance item scheduled to be performed every week in step S811.

If the maintenance cycle setting tab (every week) is not selected (No in step S807), whether or not the display instruction of the maintenance cycle setting tab (every week) is made is determined in step S808. If the display instruction of the maintenance cycle setting tab (every week) is made (Yes in step S808), the process proceeds to step S809. If the determination is No in steps S808, 809, and 810, the process proceeds to step S812.

In step S812, the CPU 401 a determines whether the maintenance cycle setting tab (every month) is selected. If the maintenance cycle setting tab (every month) is selected (Yes in step S812), whether or not the maintenance item scheduled to be performed every month is selected with the cursor is determined in step S814. If the maintenance item scheduled to be performed every month is selected with the cursor (Yes in step S814), whether or not to add the maintenance item scheduled to be performed every month is determined in step S815. If the maintenance item scheduled to be performed every month is to be added (Yes in step S815), the buttons D20 c, D20 d are pushed to perform the process of adding the maintenance item scheduled to be performed every month in step S816.

If the maintenance cycle setting tab (every month) is not selected (No in step S812), whether or not the display instruction of the maintenance cycle setting tab (every month) is made is determined in step S813. If the display instruction of the maintenance cycle setting tab (every month) is made (Yes in step S813), the process proceeds to step S814. If the determination is No in steps S813, 814, and 815, the process proceeds to step S817.

In step S817, the CPU 401 a determines whether or not the maintenance item newly add tab is selected. If the maintenance item newly add tab is selected (Yes in step S817), (see FIG. 15) is selected, and whether or not the new addition of the maintenance is executed is determined in step S819. If selected (Yes in step S819), whether or not the name of the new maintenance item is input to the maintenance item name display unit D23 b is determined in step S820. If the name of the new maintenance item is input to the maintenance item name display unit D23 b, the new maintenance item is added to the maintenance item list unit D23 a (step S821).

If the maintenance item newly add tab is not selected (No in step S817), whether or not the display instruction of the maintenance item newly add tab is made is determined in step S818. If the display instruction of the maintenance item newly add tab is made (Yes in step S818), the process proceeds to step S819. The process proceeds to step S822 if the determination in steps S818, 819 is No.

In step s822, the CPU 401 a determines whether or not the day of the week setting tab is selected. If the day of the week setting tab is selected (Yes in step S822), whether or not the checkbox of each day of the week arranged in the holiday setting check box display region D241 is changed is determined in step 5824. If the check box is changed (Yes in step S823), the check result is reflected on the calendar displayed on the setting auxiliary calendar display region D240, and the checked day of the week is displayed in red (step S825). In step S826, the CPU 401 a determines whether or not the starting date selection combo box 242 a is clicked. If the combo box D242 a is clicked (Yes in step S826), a certain day of the week is selected as the day of the week that comes at the head of the week of the calendar displayed on the calendar display part B510 b (step S827). In step S828, the CPU 401 determines whether or not the deadline date setting combo box D243 a is clicked. If the deadline date setting combo box D243 a is clicked (Yes in step S828), the beginning of the month or the end of the month are arbitrarily set as the deadline date (step S829).

If the day of the week setting tab is not selected (No in step S822), whether or not the display instruction of the day of the week setting tab is made is determined in step S823. If the display instruction of the day of the week setting tab is made (Yes in step S823), the process proceeds to step S824. The process proceeds to step S826 if the determination is No in step S824, the process proceeds to step S828 if the determination is No in step S826, and the process proceeds to step S830 if the determination is No in steps S823 and S828.

In step S830, the CPU 401 a determines whether or not the wakeup setting tab is selected. If the wakeup setting tab is selected (Yes in step S830), the time at which the apparatus becomes the standby state in which measurement can be performed is input to the reference wakeup time setting part D25 a by the user in step S832. If the wakeup setting tab is not selected (No in step S830), whether or not the display instruction of the wakeup setting tab is made is determined in step 5831. If the display instruction of the wakeup setting tab is made (Yes in step S831), the process proceeds to step S832. In step S832, whether or not the time is input to the reference wakeup time setting part D25 a is determined (step S833). If No in the determination of step S831, the process proceeds to step S834.

The CPU 401 a determines whether or not the OK button D21 indicating the termination of the setting is pushed. If the OK button D21 is pushed (Yes in step S834), the set display condition of the calendar is recorded in the hard disc 401 d of the control unit 4 a, the dialogue is closed, and the process of step S8 is terminated. If the OK button D21 is not pushed (No in step S834), the process again returns to S802.

[Change of Wakeup Time]

A case of changing the set reference wakeup time for every date with the wakeup setting tab will now be described in detail. When the wakeup icon B501 e (see FIG. 9) is clicked, the wakeup time change dialogue D3 shown in FIG. 18 is displayed.

The wakeup time change dialogue D3 includes a change wakeup time setting part D30 for inputting the wakeup time to be changed, and an “OK” button D31 for recording the changed wakeup time to the hard disc 401 d of the control unit 4 a and closing the dialogue. The reference wakeup time is displayed on the change wakeup time setting part D30 displayed on the wakeup time change dialogue D3 after the wakeup icon B501 e is clicked.

When desirably changing the reference wakeup time, the user uses the keyboard 5 c etc. to input the desired wakeup time to the change wakeup time setting part D30. After the input, the user pushes the “OK” button D31 to change the standard wakeup time of a specified date to the wakeup time desired by the user.

The embodiment disclosed herein is merely illustrative in all aspects and should not be recognized as being exclusive. The scope of the invention is defined by the scope of the claims rather than by the description of the embodiment, and meaning equivalent to the claims and all modifications within the scope is encompassed herein.

In the present embodiment, a configuration in which the customize dialogue D2 includes a maintenance cycle setting tab “every day”, a maintenance cycle setting tab “every week”, and a maintenance cycle setting tab “every month” for setting the selected maintenance item as maintenance items to be performed every day, every week, and every month, respectively; a maintenance item “newly add” tab for newly setting the maintenance item; a “day of the week setting” tab for changing the holiday of the calendar according the usage environment of the apparatus; and a “wakeup setting” tab for making measuring device 2 in a standby state at which the measurement can immediately be performed arranged in the tab selecting region D20 is described, but is not limited thereto, and a dialogue with the cycle setting tabs and a dialogue with other setting tabs may be separated in order to realize a user interface in which change frequency of the user is more easier to understand. 

1. A sample analyzer comprising: an analyzing apparatus that analyzes specimens; a memory that stores a maintenance schedule of the analyzing apparatus; and a controller that executes computer executable programs to implement: displaying on a display the maintenance schedule in a calendar format which comprises at least one group of areas associated respectively with a series of dates, wherein (i) at least some of the areas are marked on the display for maintenance operations scheduled for dates represented by the marked at least some areas, and (ii) a respective at least some of the areas are marked on the display with a wakeup operation; and on a date represented by an area marked with the wakeup operation, activating the analyzing apparatus so as to become ready for service by a wakeup time designated for the day.
 2. The sample analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the controller updates the displayed maintenance schedule each time a scheduled maintenance operation is performed.
 3. The sample analyzer according to claim 1, wherein upon selection by a user of an area in the calendar format, the controller displays a list of at least one maintenance operation scheduled for a date represented by the selected area.
 4. The sample analyzer according to claim 3, wherein with an input indicative of completion of a maintenance operation performed by a user, the controller updates the maintenance schedule stored in the memory with a performed date thereof.
 5. The sample analyzer according to claim 3, wherein the list of at least one maintenance operation comprises at least one maintenance operation already performed and/or at least one maintenance operation yet to be performed.
 6. The sample analyzer according to claim 1, wherein a respective at least one group of areas represents a series of dates arranged at a specific interval.
 7. The sample analyzer according to claim 6, wherein the specific interval is one of daily, weekly and monthly.
 8. The sample analyzer according to claim 7, wherein with an instruction to exclude a date, the controller displays the maintenance schedule in the calendar format which excludes the date instructed to be excluded.
 9. The sample analyzer according to claim 3, wherein upon selection by a user of a maintenance operation on the list, the controller instructs the analyzing apparatus to perform the selected maintenance operation.
 10. The sample analyzer according to claim 9, wherein with a notice from the analyzing apparatus indicative of completion of the maintenance operation, the controller updates the maintenance schedule stored in the memory with a performed date thereof.
 11. The sample analyzer according to claim 3, wherein the controller adds a maintenance operation to the list requested by the user to be added and deletes a maintenance operation from the list requested by the user to be deleted, and the controller updates the maintenance schedule stored in the memory, accordingly.
 12. The sample analyzer according to claim 1, wherein upon a selection by a user of a date marked with the wakeup operation, the controller displays a wakeup time designated for the date.
 13. The sample analyzer according to claim 1, wherein the controller marks the at least some of the areas with the wakeup operation with a wakeup time designated by a user.
 14. A method for displaying a maintenance schedule of an analyzing apparatus of an analyzer that analyzes specimens, the method comprising computer executable steps executed by a controller of analyzer to implement: displaying on a display the maintenance schedule in a calendar format which comprises at least one group of areas associated respectively with a series of dates, wherein (i) at least some of the areas are marked on the display for maintenance operations scheduled for dates represented by the marked at least some areas, and (ii) a respective at least some of the areas are marked on the display with a wakeup operation; and on a date represented by an area marked with the wakeup operation, activating the analyzing apparatus so as to become ready for service by a wakeup time designated for the day.
 15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising updating the displayed maintenance schedule each time a scheduled maintenance operation is performed.
 16. The method according to claim 14, further comprising, upon selection by a user of an area in the calendar format, displaying a list of at least one maintenance operation scheduled for a date represented by the selected area.
 17. The method according to claim 14, further comprising, with an input indicative of completion of a maintenance operation performed by a user, updating the maintenance schedule stored in the memory with a performed date thereof. 